Rotary internal-combustion engine.



/l u Y y' l c. w. SEARS. ROTARY INTERNALCOMBUSTIN EUGINE.

I MPucATlon rlLEu Ara. 19. |91 s. Patented Apr. 10,1917.

` 3 snTs-sHn 1.

MMR I' ,Um-uuunm r yc. w. SEARS.- ROTARY INTERNALCOMBUSTON ENGINE.

APPLICATIO FILED APR. 19 i916.

1,222,475. Patented Apr. A10,1917'.

3 SHEETS-SHEET-3.

' specification.

y'etant and uniform torque between the rotor carryiii a correspon the i i' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHAR-LES W. SEARS, 0F OMAHA, NEIBRASK.

ROTARY4 INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

' Application led April 19,

T0 all 'whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. SEARS, a i citizen of the United States, residing at Omaha, ,in the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rotary Intern Combus tion En'ginesof which the' foll'wing is a My present invention relates to improve ments in internal combustion engines, and more especially to those of V,the rotary type employing a rotary, membr or rotor 'and a coperating or stationary member or stator, reaction resulting from theexplosions of charges of combustible gas causing relative rotation betvveen'fthe'l rotor and stator."

Theprimary'objects of the yinvention are i `to provide anfinternal combustion engine-of vthis type which will be compact in proportion to the power it is capable of developing,

and stator, and 'one which will operate with relatively highfeiiiciency owing to the rela.- tively high compression to' which the explosive charges" are subjected at the moment of ignition.'

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, `the engine comprises a rotor., preferably in the general orm of alwheel, and

a stator in the general form of an annular drum 'Qr casing lsurrounding'the wheel, the

Vperlfihery ofthe wheel having a series of cirerentially arranged combustion champiston blades and ng series of pistons and cyinders` operative to `draw in and coml rees charges-'of explosive gus and to disc4 arge y the com ressed charges successively -i'ntovtlie peripheral chambers of the cum bers andl cooperating; i

`roteren iwheeL-tlief stator ,or drum having "an intake for supplyii'igthe explosive gas to thef compressing cylinders successively as tlieflatti'jregch 'a predetermined position in n their rotf about the laxis of the wheel,

dthi'utr or drum .having a combustion l nd ignition mea-ns'. therefor and intofvhi h` conibpstorli "chamberthe comr 4"chia es Q exp osive as are succes. sivlsintrodlceQ-to be expl ed therein by Ignition means." The im ulses of the 4`ve explosions inthe com ustion chammglshttot or drum act on the piston Specification of Letters Patent.

-in cooling the engine and the Patented Apr. 1.0, 1917.

191e. serial iro. 92,184.

blades, thercby rotating the rotor or wheel,

means being; provided whereby rotation. of

sive gas into the respective combustion chaine bers of the Wheel and arep'then cut off from communication. with such combustion chamM4 bers prior to ignition; to provide piston i blades whiih operate vto confine the compressed explosive charges in the respective chambers ii. the wheel until these charges successively reach the combustion chamber .of the drum-or casing; to provide vpiston blades which are adapted to move outwardly 'beyond the periphery of the wheel and into the4 combustion chamber of the drum to receive the impulses of the respective e'xplosions, these piston blades referablyoper ating to expel products o combustion re maining .in the chambers of the wheel; to provide means for blowing the roducts of combustion from the zone of t ie ignition means and from the combustion chambers ofthe wheel and drum, this action assistin arts thereo which are subjected to relative y high .tem-

peiature; to provide relatively simple and eicient means .for actuating the chargecompressing: pistons and cylinders in correct relation to the rotation of the wheel; to pro.` vide means for maintaining a correct gasseA tight fit of the rotor within the stator com.

pensating automatically for weer an contraction ani 'expansion due to temperature variations; and to cient lubricatin means.

To these an consists in certain'improvements, and loomlbinutions aiid arrangements of parte, all as will be hereinafter more fully described,

p ointed out 'pertieiinovel features being la'friy in theclaimsat t cation;

e end of the specifi.

. Figuren represents acentral verticalsec-f provide-simple and e. other ends, the inventieli-`I described. The tator jcomprises generally im annular drum or casing, it being of a 60 sion and contraction of the rotor and stator,

' 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 represents a sectionl of the lrighthand portion of the stator or drum in the plane of the intake port for the explosive as. g Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the piston blades, and

Fig. 5 is a face view of one of the members which serves to actuate the chargecompressing devices, this member being shown coupled to the shaft.

Similar parts are designated by the same reference characters in the several views.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is shoivn in the accompanying drawings and will be hereinafter described in detail. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not restricted to the particular construction shown, as .modifications and changes may be made therein and equivalent constructions are contemplated within the scope of the claims. It is also to be understood that certain features of theinvention are applicable generally tointernal` 4combustion engines of different types, and

hence such features are not limited to an engine of the particular typeherein shown.

In the present instance, 1 designates the rotor, which is generally in the form of a wheel of appropriate diameter and axial length, its dimensions being determined by the capacity of the engine and the number of combustion chambers, piston blades aiid associated charge-compressing devices.4 Preferabl the" rotor lor wheel is of generally cyl lindrieal form, it being shown as comprising a rim which contains the operative elements and spokes 2 which connect the rim to the hub, the latter being keyed or otherwise Vfixed to a shaft 4. The spaces between the spokes and at the inner circumference of the rim of the wheel provide oil chambers, and

* the distribution of oil from these chambers for lubricating purposes will be hereinafter greater axial length than the rotor or wheel, as will be understood from Fig. 2, and it is or Wheel. In' order to take up wear on the periphery ofthe rotor or wheel 'and the cooperating inner wall `of the stator or drum,

and furthermore to compensate for expandue to temperature changes, vthe drum is split, it being shown as split at the to in thev present instance, a radially exten ing slot 6 beingl formed 'to permit the diameter is provided for holding the split ends of the druin in proper relation. Preferably, and as shown, means is provided which acts to yieldingly draw thc split portions of the drum together Awith a tendency to close the slot 6. For example, bolts 8 may be provided which pass through aperto-red lugs 9 on the exterior of the drum at opposite sides of the slot and springs 10 may be interposed between these lugs and the nuts or heads 'l1 of the bolts.

Piston blades of a suitable number are pivotally mounted on the rotor or wheel, these piston blades being capable of occupyingr a. position flush with the periphery of the wheel, or substantially so, and occupying a. position where they project outwardly beyond the periphery of the wheel. The nuniber of piston blades employed may be varied as desired, this usually depending upontliepower of the engine and the nurnber of impulses to lie-given the rotor for cach revolution thereof. It is preferable, however, that these'piston blades should be equidistantly spaced circum'ferentially of the rotor or wheel, and that they should be sufiiciently close in. a circumferential direction ,to enable the impulses to be imparted to the rotor or wheel at such close intervals as to produce a constant or a substantially con` stant torque on the shaft. Each piston blade is designated 12, it having' a. pivot or knuckle '13 seated so as to rock in asocket ist in the wheel. Each piston blade preferalily has a segmentall or sector-like portion 15 which is adjacent to the pivot or knuckle i3 and from which the blade portion of the piston projects in an approximately radial direction. The periphery of the wheel is provided with a ,suitable number of circumferentially spaced recesses to accommodate the piston blades. Each recess in the wheel comprises a segmental or sector-like portion 16 to accommodate the correspondingly shaped portion 15 of the piston blade and a chamber 17 which. forms the combustion chamber, and a' space beyond it to accommodate the outer or free end of the piston blade. The coinbustion chamber is preferably of an approximately cylindrical form, it having a truncated bottom 18 Vand a port 1-9 extending therethrough for the admission of the compressed explosive charge from the respective compressing device', as will hereinafter appear. Toward the outer end of the cylindric'al combustion chamber are provided seats 20 and 21, and these seats are-adapted to be engaged by the inner wall 22 of the pisblade. shown, the segmental wall 23 of the recess in the wheel is provided with a notch ill, and the segmental or sectordke portion of the piston blade is provided with a strip or project-imi 25 which iS adapted to extend into the notch Q4. and to abutl against the outer end of. this notch, thereby preventing further outward swing of the piston blade. The limiting stop, 25 may be held in position and adjusted as may be required by one or more screws 26 extending inwardly from the outerside of the piston blade and abutting against the limiting stop Y Q5. The outer side of each piston blade has a portion 27' toward its free end which is concentric with the axis of the Wheel .and isiadaptcd to be liush with the periphery ofthe Wheel when the piston blade occupies its innermost position, andthe piston4 blade also has a plane portion 28 which inolines' inwardly from the concentric'portion 2T to or toward the pivot or knuckle 13, this plane portion of the piston blade, when the latter occupies its innermost position,l forming a pocket 29 in the periphery of the wheel.

Means is provided for taking in a charge ,of explosive gas, compressing the same, and introducing, the compressedl charge intp the combustion chamber 4in the Wheel for each piston blade. These compressing devices are spaced cirmimferentially ofthe wheel and they preferably correspond in number to the number of piston blades employed. Each corinn'essing device comprises, in the present instance, a cylinder 30 mounted to reciprocate with a4 fluid-tight it in a bore 31 formed in the rim of the wheel and extendin axi ally of the Wheel, andf a piston 32 whlch is mounted to reciprocate with a Huid-tight fit within the c rlindervBO. The cylinder '30 is provided with a head 33 and a port 34 in one side thereof nmicdiately adjacent to .the head. The rim of the wheel is 'provided with a. 'radial intake port 35 for each piston blade. This inte'srlre port is, as shown in Fig.

2. located in the rim of the wheel at one side of the piston blade and it registers with the port 34.- of' the cylinder when the respect-ive clvli nder reaches a point in its rotation which brings -it opposite to orin register with the rjas intake port 36 in the drum. The intake port 36 in the drum is in communication with a. carbureter which may be of the usual type employed on internal combustion engines for supp ying hydrocarbon or other gaseous fuel. 'V7 hen the rotation of the wheel brings the :ports 3l, 35 and 36 into register, the piston 52 and the cylinder h ead 33 are separated to their maximum distance. The separating movement of the iston and cylinder head produces a vacuum 1n the cylindcr, and when the ports just stated come into register, a. charge of explosive gas 1s forced' by atmospheric pressure through the carburetor and into the cylinder. As the rotation of the Wheel or rotor continues, the port=35 in the ro'zor or wheel is carried in a circumferential direct-ion 4'out of register with the intake port 36 in the drum, and the port 34 in the cylinder is moved in an axial direction 'out of register with the intake ort 35 in the rim oi the rotoror Wheel.4 he

charge of gasint-i loduced into the cylinder 30 occurs, the compiessed charge is transferred from the cylinder to the combustion chamber the corresponding piston blade, the latter at icol this time engagin g the seats 2O and 21 which seal the combistion chamber. Suitable means, such as a rib 30 on the cylinder 30 and a cooperatingr groove 30 in the'bore 31, serves4 to preven'; rotation of the cylinder, and hence the po rt 34 in the cylinder will be maintained in line4 'with the coperating ports 19 and 35.

r The present in vention'provides relatively simple means for effecting reciprocation of the several cylinders and pistons 30 and 32 respectively, to draw in the explosive charges, compresi; such charges, and transfer the compressed charges to the respective combustion cham bers'ln the periphery of the wheel in proper relation to the rotation of the wheel. As shown, the actuatingmeans for the compresiing cylinders andjpistons comprises apair of disks or heads iSaIidA 39 which are preferably circular in formi' and.:

have their peripheries-rotatably engeged'jry grooves 40 andvll, formedinrin oizja'n''llt lar members 42 and A ti'frespecrely." The rings or annular members 42 4 3 are preferably formed separately from the drum and are fitted .into tie ends thereof at opposite sides of the rim )f the rotor or Wheel. The

grooves 40 and 4l of these rings or annular members lie in planeswliich are inclined in reverse directions relatively to theaxis of the shaft 4, the axis of inclination of these planes relatively to the shaft being desig- Dated by the line .1i-y in Figl for a purpose that will hereinafter appear. The grooved rings or members 42 and 43 are held non-rotatably within the drinn while the heads or disks 3S and 39 rotate in unison with the rotor or wheel but they maintain the axis of inclination relatively to the drum as designated by the line :1i-y in Fig. 1. The means shown in the present instance for causing rotation of the disks or heads 38 and 39 in unison wiih the rotor or wheel comprises a pair of driving hubs 44 and 45 which are keyed or otherwise fixed to turn with the shaft 4 and have a suitable number` of ribs -1-.6 and 47, the ribs of eacliliub lying within the circmnfcrence of a sphere and engaging in grooves 48 in the respective disk 3S or 39 and thereby forming a. driving connection between the shaft and the respective disk, although permitting each disk to follow the inclined groove 40 or 41 as the Shaft revolves. Rotation of theshaft causes the two disks to alter their direction of inclination reiatively to the shaft, although their inclination relatively to the drum is maintained. The different cylinders are operatively connected to the disk 3S while the pistons 32 are operatively connected to the disk 39. In the present instance, a rod 49 connects each, cylinder to the disk 38, the rod having a universal joint connection with the disk. As shown, it has a spherical head 50 'which is engaged in a spherical socket 51 'formed between a pair of tapered bearing members 52, the latter fitting into a tapered seat 53 in thel disk, and screws or bolts 54 serve to draw the tapered bearing members into the seatand to hold them therein in proper adjusted relation to the spherical head 50. Each piston 32 has a rod 55 which connects it to the disk 39, each rod having a universal joint connection with the disk 39 'which may beof the saine construction as that just described in connection with the rods 49. Owing to the reverse inclination of the disks 9S and 39 on the line .1v-y relatively to the drum, the cylinders 30 and the pistons 32 are caused to approach and recede relative-ly to one another as the wheel revolves, performing the cycle of operations as hcreinbefore described.

The ends of the drum are closed by heads 56 and 57, and these heads are preferably utilized to support bearings for the shaft 4. As slilown. the hea ds are clamped against the ends of the drum by bolts or other suitable devices 58, and suitable means is provided for effecting Huid-tight fits between the heads and the ends of the housing. As

shown, grooves 59 having oppositely sloperative parts o be fitted into these grooves and clamped therein by tightening of the bolts 58. Bearings 61 and 62 are supported in the heads and cooperate with theshaft 4. To provide for lubrication of these bearings, lubricating passages 63 and 64 are extended downwardly from lubricant-collecting pockets 65 and 66 formed at the tops of the bearings to receive oil lifted by the rotor or the respective disks 38 and 39, the lubricating ,passages 63 and 64 serving to conduct this oil to the interior of4 the bearing. Lubrication ofthe piston blades and the cylinders 30 and pistons 32 is also provided for. As shown, a

lubricant-conducting passage 67 leads from the space between each pair of adjacent spokes 2 and from the inner circumference of the rim of the wheel intothe segmental or sector-shaped portion 16 of the recess which contains the correspondingly shaped portion-'of each iston blade, and another .lubricant-conducting passa-ge 68 leads from the inner circumference of the rim of the wheel to the bore 31 in which the cylinder 30 reci rocates. Oil is supplied to the lower half iierum and'tliis oil is lifted by the wheel as the latter revolves, some of the oil reaching the inner circumference of the rim oi the wheel and then iowin through the oil-conducting the-wheel. The oil owing through the passages 67 and 68 eventually reaches the periphery of the wheel, owing to centrifugal action, and supplements the oil in the lower half of the drum in maintaining an oil .film between the periphery of the passages 67 an 68 to the opwheel and the piston blades and the interior bore of the drum.

'Ihe interior bore of the drum is provided with an ignition chamber 69 which is located slightly beyond the axis 4 :ind this ignition chamber contains suitablis i tion means, it being referable to employ a pairf spark plugs 0 adapted to be connected to any suitable ignition syste-m capable of producing sparking at the plugs at appropriate intervals or in timed relation to the passage of the piston blades relatively to the ignition chamber. The interior bore of the drum is provided with a gas expansion or combustion chamber, it being shown in the form of a groove 71Vinto which the free ends of the piston blades are adapted to fitso as to permit movement of these piston blades but prevent leakage of gas past the piston blades. An incline 7 2 leads from the ignition chamber 69 to the groove 71 forming the combustion chamber, and an exhaust port 73 is provided in the drum at end of the combustion chamber. The li t ing stops 25 rof the, piston'blades are so ad justed that they will just permit the fre( ered by the pocket 29 at the outer side of. f veach Jiston blade as the latter passes the 4,0

ends of the piston blades to reach the bottom of the'grmin'e 7 l, thereby reducing the pressure und. y1 nily the 'friction and wear oit' these. ston blades to u minimum. Beyond the exhziust port T3 the interior circunr ference oi the drum is formed with an incline Til. which exto ds inwardly to substantially the peiL-iiiheiry of the \vl1eeland beyond this incline 7l, and in advance of the intake port 36 the interior of the drum is forn'iei'fl with a groove 75 whereby the piston blades will be caused to move into the. re cess-es of the wheel by the incline 7% after thespiston blades pass the exhaust port, and the piston blades will be permitted to'again swing outwardly from the recesses of the Wheel before reaichng the intake port. The lower half of the drum which extends be# tween the intake port 36 and' the ignition chamber 69 is preferably ungrooved so that thel piston blades will be held within their recessesA in the wheel duiing the coiresponding half of the revolution of the wheel.

ln order to'insure complete clearing of the i coi'nbustioi'i chambers of the products of coi'nbustion and to also assist in cooling the engine, a port 76 maybe provided immediately in advance of the ignition chamber 69, this port being connected by -a pipe to a suitable source of'compressed air. A similar port 78 may be provided in the drinn and leading into the lower end of the groove 75, this port being adapted toi supply compressed air from a suitable source through -a pipe 79 to the groove 75. In the operation of the engine, the inner end` of the port 76 will be uncovpoi-t 6, communication being thereby es-` tablished between the port 76 and thei iition chamber 69, and in consequence, a b ast of cool air will act on the ignition points or el :trodes of the spark plugs to clear them of foul or burned giises and to cool them. r.lhe air so nitroduced will flow through the combustion chamber formed by the groove 71 andwill be vented through the exhaust The cool air introduced into the groove 7 5 by the `port 78 will carry any [products of combustion remaining in ythe t ti. n. In both instances, the cool compressed groove 7 5 or in the combustion chambers of the wheel out of the vent 80. I-f desired, an

exhaust fan or other suction device may be.

connectedl to the vent 80 to facilitate this acair introduced into the drum will cool the v base 81 where interior thereof. and the A pistonsandother' .operative other cooling' system may be provided for the housing parts Of course, a water or and the Wheel also, if desired. `The drum is )rovided at the bottom with a by it may be clamped or bolted te an appropriate support. f- "'fl.`he cycle of operations my be briefly de-my rotation. of the wheel, the pocket 29 will un- .ignition system, '1 zhe engine may be started 7o by rotating the shaft in a clockwise direction. As each pis ton blade passes the intake port, it is moved into its recess in the rim of the wheel, and the cylinder 30 and piston 32 conprising thi-` charge-compressing means 75 for his piston bade, after having received"""" a charge of explosive gas, begin to approach one another. All this piston blade moves from tlieintake port in a clockwise direction, the comprfssingof the charge pro-V so ceeds, owing to t; 1e approaching movements of the cylinder head 33 and the copemting piston 32. When this cylinder 30 reaches the `line :isy, the piston 32 and cylinder head 33 `will be at the limits of their ap- 35 preaching movements, the charge between the piston and cylinder headwill be compressed to the highest degree, and the port 34 in the cylinder will be in register with the port 19 leading to the corresponding 90 combustion cham ser in the rim of the Wheel. The compressed barge will, in consequence, be transferred from the cylinder into the` corresponding combustion chamber in the wheel and the charge will be retained in this 9s combustion "chair ber by the engagement of' the wall 22 of che piston blade with the seats 20 and 21 which seal the combustion chamber. At `substantially .this point in the `10() cover the inner eid of the port 7 6 and eri mit a blast of aii' past the electrodes o the ignition plugs for the purpose hereinbefore described. -Fortier rotation ofthe wheel permits receding of the piston 32 and the `1o|5 cylinder headn33, carrying theport 34 out of register with the port 19 leadingto thecombustion chamber in the rlm of the wheel, thereby interrupt ing communication between these parts. At 1 his point in the rotation of 110 the wheel, the free end of the piston blade reaches the incline 72 leading outwardly and into the groove 71 which forms the combus-` tion chamber in the drum. As thepiston blade inoves outwardly, -it unspals or uncovers the combustion chamber in the rim off the wheel, permitting the compressed explosive charge pr'e\iously' confined therein to escape into the ignition chamber 69, the

spark passing at this moment and thereby through 4the porlgxwhen hf exhausted l; Piston biene uur passes that port. As the piston blade reaches the incline 74, it is returned to a.- position within the recess of the wheel, thereby expelling products of combustion contained beneath it. After the piston blade has passed the incline 74, it again swings outwardly by centrifugal force into the groove 75, thereby uncovering the combustion chamber in the rim of the wheel and permitting any products of'combustion remaining in the combustion chamber to escape into the groove 75 and to pass out of the drum through the vent 80. Clearing of 'the combustion chamber of burned gases is facilitated by the blast of air entering the drum through the port 78, as previously decharge compressin scribed. lVhile the piston'blade is moving from the ignition chamber in a clockwise direction to the intake port, the piston 32 and c 7linder head 33 are receding. Atsubstantlally the moment the corresponding cylinder 30 reaches a point opposite to the intake port, the port 3l in thisV cylinder is in register with the intake port 35 in the rim of the wheel, and the intake polt 35 in the rim of the wheel comes in register with the intake port 36 in the drum. The vacuum produced in the cylinder 30 by rea-son of the receding motion of the piston 32 and cylinder head then. permits another charge, of explosive gas to enter the cylinder from the carbureter. The cycle of operations just described is repeatedat each revolution of the wheel or rotor, and this cycle of operations is performed by each piston blade and' its chargecompressing means.

' By employing a circumferential series of piston blades and associated compressing means: the successive impulses imparted to the rotor or wheel produce a torque on the shaft which is constant, or 'substantially so,

and the power 'may be developed at a relati'vely low speedl of the shaft. Eiiiciency of the engine is increased in comparison with engines of the ordinary reciprocating type by causing the impulses to act on the rotor or wheel in substantially 'the line ot movement of the periphery thereof, conversion of reciprmnating `motion into rotary motion with its consequent vibration and loss ot power; beingr avoided. By cutting off communication between the compressing cylin- `der and the corresponding combustionl chamber `immediately prior to the explosion in such combustion chamber, the efficiency of 'the engine. is increased, in that it confines the exploded gases to the combustion chamber, thus producing a. higher explosion pressure, and the force of the explosion is not sustained by the compressing cylinder and piston and, in consequence', these-parts may be made of relatively,Y light construction, straining thereof is avoided, and undue wear of these parts is avoided. Furthermore, no waste products 'of combustion remain in the and hence each cyl;

compressing cylinders,

take in a. full inder will, at each stroke, charge of explosive gas.

I claim as my lnvention 1. An internal combustion engine commeans for introducing a compressed charge.

from said compressing means into said combustion chamber and operative subsequently to interrupt communication between the means and said chamber, and means or causing said charge when exploded to act in a. peripheral direction upon the rotor.

Q. A n internal combustion engine comprising a rotor, a stator, a vcombustion chamber in the rotor, means for igniting an explosive charge in said chamber, means for confining a compressed explosive charge in said chamber prior to ignition thereof, and` vcharge compresslng means for introduclng a compremed explosive charge into the combustion chamber and having means for cutting it off from communication with said chamber prior to ignition of such charge.

3. An interal combustion engine comprising a rotor, a stator, a combustion chamber in the rotor, means for igniting an explosive charge .in said chamber, means for confiningr a compressed charge in said chamber and operative to cause its release and ignition,4

and charge compressing means `for supplying a compressed explosive charge for said chamber and adapted to be put out of commnnication with said chamber prior to the explosion of such charge in the combustion chamber. v

l. An internal combustion engine comprising a rotor, a stator, a 'chamber being provided in the periphery of the rotor,

charge compressing means carriedfby'` thev rotor for supplying a compressedA explosivet..

charge to said chamber, means for confining such charge in said chamber, and means for igniting the charge in said chamber after communication between the latter and the compressed charge-supplying means has been interrupted.

An internal combustion engine com-- prising a drum having a combustion chamber, a whcelrotatably fitting in said drum and having a- .chamber in its periphery, means for compressing 'and supplying an explosive charge to the chamber in the wheel, anda member movable into a position to cover and thereby confine such charge in the latter chamber and subsequentl movable into a` position to cause such c arge to enter the combustion chamber of the drum.

6. An internal combustion engine comrisng a drum having a combustion chamr, a wheel rotatably fitting in said dum and having a, chamber in its periphery, ber, a wheel rotatably fitting in said drum means Ifor compressing and supplying an and having a el', amber in its periphery, a explosive charge to the chamber in the `charge-compressiagg cylinder carried by the wheel, and a piston blade carried 4by the Wheel and having means for establishing 5 wheel operative to confine such charge in and interrupting communication between it 70 the latter -chamber and subsequently movand said chambe;I in the Wheel, means operable into a position to cause such charge to ative by rotation of the wheel to cause comi enter the combustionchamberof the drum. pression of an explosive charge in said 7. An internal combustion engine com'V cylinder and transfer ot such charge to the l'prising a drum having a combustion: cham, chamber in the Wheel, and means operative 75 ber,` a wheel rotatably fitting in said drum tio cause ow of :auch charge from the chamand having a chamber in its peripl1ery,-ber in the whefl into the chamber in the means carried by the wheel. for compressing drum after communication between said and supplying an ex )lesive jcharge to thev cylinder and the chamber in the Wheel has 1E chamber in the wheel, and a pistonblade been cut oi. 30 carried by the wheel operative to confin 12. An internal combustion engine com- U such charge in the latter chamber and sub- `prising a drumV having a combustion chamsequently movable into a positlon to cause ber7 a wheel rotatably fitting in said drum such charge to enter the combustion chamand having chamber in .its'perilgiheryj a ber of the drum, the, piston bladebeing archarge-compressing cylindencarred by the 85 ranged to operate in the combustion chamwheel and having a. port adapted to estabber of thelrum and to transmit an implllSe lish and to in! errupt communication beresulting from the explosion of such charge tween it and the, chamber in the wheel, to the wheel. means operative by rotation of the wheel to 8. An internal combustion engine comcause'compression of an explosive cl'iarge in 90 prising a drum having a combustion chamf the cylinder to subsequently establish com# ber, a wheel rotatably ttingin said drum 4munication betweensaid port in. the cylin and having a chamber in its periphery, a' der and the eli amber in the Wheel and to chargecompressin-g cylinder carried by the thereafter interrupt communication between 3 wheel and operative to supply au com; said cylinder port and the .latter chamber, 95 pressed explosive charge to the chamber in and means controlling the iow of the charge the wheel, and means'operative subsequently from the chamber in the wheel into vthe to admit a portionof such charge to the chamber in th` drum.

combustion chamber in the drum. v13. An internal combustion engine com- 9. An internal combustion engine comprising a rotor having a piston member prising a. drumlhaving a combustion champocketed inthe periphery and movable into ber, a wheel rotatably fitting in said -drum a position rojecting beyond said periphery, and having a chamber in its periphery, a stator aviag a combustion chamber o means for supplying a compressed-explosive adapted to reccive'said piston member when for confining such charge in the latter cham; pressed explosive charge to said `combustion ber and subsequently causing such charge chamber to be confined therein by said pisto enter the combustion chamber of thel 'ton member ard to rbe explodedand to act drum, and means for interrupting commnnitherein against said piston member.

' 45 cation between the charge-supplying means 14. An intemal' combustion enginel com- 110 f `and the chamber in the wheel prior to entry -prising a rotor having a piston member of such charge into the combustion chamber pocketed in its periphery and movable into in the drum. Y a' position projecting beyond said periphery,

' 10. An internal combustion engine com-l :a stator havzng a combustion chamber prising a 'drum having a combustion ehamy adapted to reosinelsaidpiston member when 115 ber;- a wheel rotatably fitting in said drum pro]ected, and aber compressing means and having a. chamber in its periphery, aV carriedby the rotor for supplying a comcharge-compressing cylinder' carried by'the pressed. explosive charge to said combustion wheel and having means for establishing chamber in the rotor "to be `connedtherein and interrupting. communication` between itmnlnder conti-olaf said piston member.

-f and said chamber in the wheel, means ,oper-ii' 15. An internalcombustion 4 engine comative by rotation of the `wheel to cause comprising a rotorhaving a 'piston member ,ression' of an explosive charge' in said cyl `pocketed in its perileryand movable into a *ginder Aand transfer of such- 'charge to the position projeitingl yondsaid}; er1phery, a

-voahamberin the wheel, and means operative chamber boing; fiormedin ,the rotprbeneath i725 to'cause flow ofsuch lcharge :from the chamsaid piston-member agptator having segni 1 ber in the wheel into the Chamberlin theI 'bastion chamber rr `togeesivf?,sisal@ drum.. v. Apistonmembiciw pro} ect ed jf 11,. An internal combustion engine com- `Vand means r5 sa plyinv Aab Prisingfa having @combustion cham an .explosivleinagel;` chamber i t 180.V

40 charge to the chamber in the wheel, means proJected, and means for supplying a com- 9. and 'lubricant-conduoting passages leadin swl'astemtially radially from the central por- L nesses. tien. uf the wheel, some of said passages leading to Said. piston blade and Others to said 5 Cylinders.

Tr: testimony whereof I'have hereunto set g my hand in presence offtwo 'subscribing wit- C'HARLES W. SEARS. Witnesses JOHN'W'. GnAgAM; GLADYS MOMILLEN. 

